LEAD NEWS: Governor's Update
Today, May 15, 2020, Governor Northam’s
Executive Order 61
takes effect. This order allows for easing some of the restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Order 61 allows for “restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms to operate delivery, take-out, and outdoor dining and beverage services only, provided such businesses comply with the Guidelines.” Please refer to and read Order 61 in detail.
If you are in the Northern Virginia Region (Cities of Falls Church, Fairfax, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, or the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, or Prince William) Accomack County, or the City of Richmond, your reopening process is governed by
Executive Order 62
. Pursuant to EO62, your jurisdiction will not enter Phase One of the reopening process until May 29.
If your business would like to expand your outdoor seating, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has provided an expedited method to gain approval with a
VDH permit;
a requirement of the VDH permit is approval from the locality. Please contact your local jurisdiction to begin the process for obtaining approval to expand your outdoor seating.
With regard to reopening Virginia’s beaches, the Governor indicated that the Department of Natural Resources is working with local officials on guidelines for reopening them. The Governor indicated that he will make an announcement related to beaches on Monday.
|
|
|
|
Virginia Restaurant Promise - Poster to print!
|
|
Follow the Rules - Comply with EO61 & EO62
Today, EO61 and EO62 take effect. As you know, VRLTA has many reservations with both executive orders, but we also believe that it’s incumbent upon our industry to be good stewards. While we believe that there are fundamental issues with these measures, we urge all hospitality and tourism businesses to comply. We will continue to advocate for changes to these orders, but until those amendments are incorporated, we need to all follow these guidelines.
As Virginia's hospitality and tourism businesses begin to reopen, keep in mind that what you do in your place of business is a reflection on the entire industry. Please make sure that you are following the guidelines laid out by the Governor, the Virginia Department of Health, and your locality. VRLTA is working hard to represent the interests of our members, as well as the overall industry, and our ability to influence policy and make progress with decision-makers will be hampered if businesses are not following "the letter of the law" during the reopening time.
In other states, images and video of businesses not following their governor's guidelines have caused concern among lawmakers and potentially impacted reopening decisions going for
ward. Take it slowly now, follow and enforce the rules, and show the Governor and other decision makers that our industry is focused on keeping patrons safe and healthy. Thank you!
|
|
Reopening Resources
We continue to post resources related to reopening on our website.
Visit this page
for the latest reopening resources, and
this page
for the latest news.
PPE Resources -
- Sysco - currently in stock: masks, gloves in a variety of sizes, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, surface sanitizers, and bleach - contact your sales rep for the latest product availability and pricing
- PFG - contact your sales rep for the latest product availability
- Safeguard Promotional Products - facemasks and shields, hand sanitizer, gloves, gowns, acrylic shields (for checkout stands) - pricing here, or visit https://www.safeguardjack.com/ or contact Anne Meagher Watson at 804.355.2679 or Anne@SafeguardJack.com
- KO Distilling is producing Bare Knuckle Hand Sanitizer. More information can be found here.
Other Partner Resources -
- Ecolab - Has a variety of cleaning and sanitizing products available (list for hospitality and list for foodservice); Contact Carey Friedman at carey.friedman@ecolab.com or 804.840.3943
- BMS Direct Inc - for printing of restaurant placemats and menus, including washable menus coming soon! VRLTA members get discounted pricing. Visit this link for more information or email leif.aagaard@bmsdirectinc.com for inquiries.
- Push Operations - Push Operations is a labor management solution for restaurants. Push is now offering restaurants its employee health pre-screening software. The software allows contactless temperature checks for employees, customizable pre-health check questions to employees, and effortless communication to employees who’ve worked with a team member that has Covid-19. This service is complimentary for VRLTA members! More information: https://pushoperations.com/covid-19-features/ or Tommy Truong at Tommy@pushoperations.com or 778.858.6325.
|
|
Local Update
Yesterday, VRLTA sent a letter to the Virginia Municipal League, Virginia Association of Counties, and Virginia Association of Economic Developers. In the letter, we urge localities across Virginia to use federal CARES Act funds that been allocated to them to create COVID-19 business relief grants.
You can view the letter here.
|
|
|
|
Some Fun Tonight at 5 p.m.
Guy Fieri and Bill Murray will go head-to-head in 'Nacho Average Showdown' - an event to benefit the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. You can watch live TONIGHT, May 15 at 5 p.m. on Food Network's Facebook page.
The “Nacho Average Showdown” presented by Tostitos is sure to include off-the-wall humor and friendly banter between Fieri and Murray. Their sons, Hunter Fieri, and Chef & Restaurateur Homer Murray will also do battle to show their dads the secret to making perfect nachos. Each competitor will create his signature nachos for “Showdown” judges Terry Crews and Shaquille O’Neal. Food Network host Carla Hall will emcee the event. Viewers will be encouraged to contribute to RERF via the donate button on
Food Network’s Facebook page
.
See a video with Fieri here
, and
read more about the live event here.
|
|
Help VTC Understand the Impacts of Coronavirus on your Organization
|
|
ServSafe offering new, FREE reopening training
ServSafe is committed to helping restaurants with information and training needs related to the coronavirus pandemic. Now that states are moving cautiously toward reopening businesses like restaurants and foodservice operations, they have prepared a free training video outlining the steps restaurant line level employees are encouraged to utilize in returning to full-service operations.
Learn more here
.
|
|
Tom Bené Named as President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association; CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
The National Restaurant Association today announced the appointment of Tom Bené as the Association’s President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and CEO of the Educational Foundation, effective June 1. In this role, Mr. Bené will be responsible for guiding the Association’s strategic path towards its vision for a thriving restaurant and foodservice community, providing America with nourishment, opportunity and joy, while working to enhance quality of life for all.
Read the full release here.
|
|
Virginia is for Restaurant Lovers Merchandise Supports the VRLTA Relief Fund - Make a purchase to show your support today!
VRLTA has also partnered with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to create a Virginia is for Restaurant Lovers t-shirt, and other merchandise, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
